Game 131 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles

This year's Battle of the Beltways doesn't have the same juice as some previous versions did. Some of that is due to the two participants' very different records. Some of that is due to the odd scheduling, with two weeknight games in each city, one month apart from each other.

Whatever the case, the Nationals and Orioles renew acquaintances tonight. And from the Nats' perspective, these are must-win games. They split the two games at Camden Yards in July. That won't cut it this time, not with Patrick Corbin and Max Scherzer on the mound, not the way they're playing as a whole right now.

A red-hot lineup goes up against right-hander Aaron Brooks, who has an 8.07 ERA in eight starts for Baltimore. Asdrúbal Cabrera, who has been red-hot himself, starts at second base and bats fifth, ahead of Matt Adams and Victor Robles. Yan Gomes is behind the plate catching Corbin, as he's done all summer.

There's one roster change for the Nationals: Hunter Strickland, whose wife gave birth to the couple's first daughter Monday, is on paternity leave for a couple of days. Spencer Kieboom was recalled from Double-A Harrisburg to take that roster spot, giving the team three catchers for this series and giving Davey Martinez the ability to use Kurt Suzuki as a pinch-hitter without fear of burning up his backup catcher.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 77 degrees, wind 7 mph right field to left field

NATIONALS (73-57)
SS Trea Turner
RF Adam Eaton
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
2B Asdrúbal Cabrera
1B Matt Adams
CF Victor Robles
C Yan Gomes
LHP Patrick Corbin

ORIOLES (43-88)
3B Hanser Alberto
RF Trey Mancini
LF Anthony Santander
1B Renato Núñez
2B Jonathan Villar
C Pedro Severino
CF Stevie Wilkerson
SS Richie Martin
RHP Aaron Brooks